New Delhi, July 9 -- The Indian rupee opened flat at 95.55 against the US dollar on Thursday, 9 July, as renewed hostilities between the US and Iran reignited concerns over a spike in crude oil prices.

Brent crude, after surging more than 8% over the previous two sessions, climbed another 1% during Asian trading after the US military launched fresh strikes on Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran on Kuwait and Bahrain.

The impact of rising crude prices on the rupee had eased in recent weeks, but the latest escalation in the Middle East has brought those concerns back into focus. For India, a major crude oil importer, higher oil prices could widen the current account deficit, stoke inflationary pressures, and weigh on economic grow...